Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., on Wednesday praised the Trump administration's efforts to address veteran suicide and improve support services for former service members, pointing to expanded mental health care and new employment initiatives as key parts of its approach.
Banks made the remarks during an appearance on Newsmax's "Bianca Across the Nation" from a Steak 'n Shake restaurant in Indiana, where the company announced a program designed to provide veterans with a pathway to long-term careers and stable incomes after military service.
Banks, who served in the U.S. Navy Reserve, said his own military experience informs his focus on issues affecting veterans.
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins and I "are both veterans ourselves," Banks said. "So knowing what our fellow veterans go through, what they've experienced when they served, and then life after service is something that both of us take very, very seriously."
Banks credited President Donald Trump and Collins with making what he described as historic progress in addressing veteran suicide, while acknowledging additional work remains.
"What President Trump and Secretary Collins have done to address veteran suicide and those rates is really historic in so many ways," Banks said. "There's always more that we can do."
Veteran suicide has remained a persistent concern for the Department of Veterans Affairs. The agency has expanded suicide prevention programs in recent years, including crisis intervention services, mental health outreach and efforts to connect veterans with community-based resources.
Federal officials have repeatedly said reducing suicide among veterans remains one of the department's top priorities.
Banks said the administration's support extends beyond health care to initiatives that help veterans transition to civilian life through employment opportunities.
"I'm very proud of what the Trump administration has done to support our veterans in big ways, whether it's announcements like this one today at Steak 'n Shake or what the department is doing to make sure that veterans have the best health care services available to them through the VA," he said.
The Indiana event highlighted Steak 'n Shake's commitment to hiring veterans and offering career advancement opportunities designed to provide stable employment following military service.
Banks also praised the quality of mental health services available through the VA.
"What the VA does is top notch for mental health care for our veterans," he said. "I'm very proud of the Trump administration and how they take care of our American heroes."
The appearance came as the administration continues to emphasize veterans' issues, including health care access, suicide prevention and employment, as priorities for former service members transitioning to civilian life.
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